Receive the latest local updates in your inbox

A suspected gangbanger who allegedly shot and wounded an off-duty police officer and sent a bullet through the officer’s car window--narrowly missing his two-year-old son--was charged with attempted murder Saturday.

The officer, 34, had just exited his car and was about the take his son out of a car seat Monday night near 63rd and Nashville when police say Mario Froylan, 27, approached and announced a robbery before a gun battle ensued.

Gangs: Symbols, Colors & Hand Signs

About ten shots were fired: three of them hit the officer, and police believe at least one hit Froylan, who fled in a car to a relative’s house in Summit. Through information offered by an informant to police in Summit, officers were able to track Froylan down, Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said at a news conference Saturday.

“It could have been much worse, and in fact, there’s a bullet hole in the window of the officer’s car, right in the vicinity of where his child was,” said McCarthy.

“This offender does not have a violent history, but he apparently made some sort of leap,” he said of Froylan.

“This is the eighth officer who’s been shot since I’ve been here,” said McCarthy who spoke in frustration about gun violence. “The fact is, something’s got to change.”

The injured officer was lucky to be alive and wanted to get back to work out of concern for his partner, he said.

Froylan, of Westmont, was also charged with attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery with a firearm. He is expected in bond court Sunday.